1855.] Notes on Northern Cachar. 611 



most severe ; yet they are not taken into account and never give 

 ground for a quarrel, whereas at other times the lifting of a hand 

 would lead to a blood-feud. 



Since the regular establishment of our government in these hills, 

 many feuds have been patched up among the JNagas, and their 

 recurrence is less frequent ; the presence of an European officer on 

 the spot, who can 'expostulate with, and explain our policy to, the 

 most influential people of the tribes, has also materially tended to 

 check the effusion of blood. But still they do occur, now and then, 

 and nothing will eradicate the evil spirit, until many years have 

 passed away, and a brighter light shines among the rude inhabitants 

 of JN\ Cachar. 



The JNagas have a very vague idea of religion. They admit a 

 plurality of deities having different attributes, but have none to 

 whom they ascribe creation, the universe being pre-existent to their 

 gods, and remaining unaccounted for. The first person in their 

 mythology is " Semeo" the god of riches, to whom all those who 

 seek wealth make sacrifices. He is also supposed to inflict punish- 

 ment in the way of sudden reverses of fortune and sickness, on those 

 who, having wealth, do not sacrifice to him. " Kuchimpai" is the 

 god qf the harvest, as well as one possessing general influence over 

 the affairs of mortals. To him sacrifices are made of goats, fowls 

 and eggs (the large animals such as buffaloes, methins and cows, 

 being reserved for Semeo) and prayers offered up for the prosperity 

 of the crop. Among the malignant deities " Eupiaba" has the first 

 place ; to his displeasure are ascribed all the misfortunes that fall 

 to the lot of mortals, and offerings of dogs and pigs are made to 

 appease him when angry. He is supposed to be of a very fierce 

 and ungainly appearance, and has only one eye, and that in the 

 middle of his forehead. As an assistant Hupiaba has got a blind 

 god of the name of "Kangniba," whose temper is fierce. He is 

 worshipped at cross roads, where propitiatory offerings are piled up 

 for his benefit by passers-by. The fact of his being blind is wickedly 

 taken advantage of by the JNagas, and offerings made to hitn seldom 

 consist of more than a few common leaves, he being supposed to be 

 unable to distinguish between them and articles of greater value. 

 When fowls are sacrificed to this god, a very small fowl indeed is 



